BEST USE OF COLOUR

LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUE / GREENBELT 3

Louis Vuitton’s 665-metre space within Makati’s glamorous Greenbelt 3 mall is a masterclass in fusing French elegance and savoir-faire with Filipino craftsmanship and artistry. Set against warmly lit interiors and ceiling panels made of the textiles raffia and saguran from the fibre of local leaves, each corner of the Maison boasts distinctly vibrant furniture, art and décor to accentuate its polished, neutral look.

Bringing the theme of “woven heritage” to magnanimous life, Swiss-filipina tastemakers Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez and Jessica Kienle Maxwell of the homegrown furniture label Philux collaborated with four world-class artists to adorn the boutique with mesmeric tributes to Filipino culture. Sprawling rugs by the New York City-based Iñigo Elizalde sport eclectic designs inspired by his Filipino roots, from tribal tattoo patterns found in the southern part of the country to the hand-carved rice terraces in the north.

Meanwhile, artist Monica Delgado creatively interprets the Philippines’ unparalleled oceans and sunsets in Bliss, an alluring teal-coloured artwork created with strips of acrylic paint that were individually squeezed, dried and layered. In a similar way, the French-filipina Olivia d’aboville takes inspiration from landscapes in her travels, capturing the hues of orange, teal and brown in Fields of Colour (Circular), in which she pleated 12 metres of abaca polyester fabric handwoven from Cebu. Lastly, renowned jewellery and fashion designers and sisters Bea and Marga Valdes play an ode to Philippine textile arts in Hibla – O2, helmed from chunky cords, rope and tapestry in prominently yellow and pink tones.

Further evincing the Kienle sisters’ signature touch, prevalent wooden elements such as Philux’s remarkable furniture, bamboo teardrop lamps and capiz shell-inspired sliding doors, simultaneously add warmth and textural contrast to the space while highlighting the prowess of local artisans. With this, the store truly gets to flourish the diverse beauty of Filipino design in irradiant splendour.